Gordic Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin used to be friends before they started Hogwarts. Later, they argued about a lot of things about the school.
After Slytherin left the school, the feud seemed to carry on into their Houses for a long time. The arguments and spats between Gryffindors and Slytherins were famous at Hogwarts, and each of the Houses believed they were better than the other.
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Which Is Better: Gryffindor or Slytherin?
It is hard to discern which House is better, Slytherin or Gryffindor. Reading the Harry Potter books and watching the movies, we have a point of view of Gryffindor. The brave, chivalrous, and selfless people who always win the fight. It is very one-sided and suggests that anybody that doesn’t belong to Gryffindor is automatically worse.
Slytherins have many traits that are perceived as negative, but only with a certain light. Being ambitious is definitely not a bad thing. Neither is cunning since sometimes it is better to work smart than to work hard. Both of those traits are most prized in Slytherin House.
The battle between Gryffindor and Slytherin was running for a long time, and it was rather ferocious at times because students of both Houses were very determined and wanted to be prized by others.
In our opinion, it depends on one’s character to decide if Gryffindor is better than Slytherin. It would have to go down to personal opinion because of the differences between Gryffindor and Slytherin and the values each cherishes the most.
Did Slytherin Beat Gryffindor?
Before Harry attended Hogwarts, Slytherin was in the lead in all the biggest inter-House competitions. It changed somewhat afterward, and according to Snape’s beliefs, it was because Potter was Dumbledore’s favorite.
House Cup
Slytherin beat Gryffindor for six years straight before Harry joined Hogwarts.
The very first Leaving Feast of Harry Potter was decorated in Slytherin colors. They won fair and square, collecting points throughout the school year. Gryffindor was in the last place because
Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter, their hero of two Quidditch matches, had lost them all those points, him and a couple of other stupid first years.
The green-colored theme didn’t stay for long because Dumbledore felt there were some points to be distributed last minute. After a humble addition of 170 extra points for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville, Gryffindor won their first House Cup after a long time.
A similar situation happened at the end of the second year when Harry and Ron got 200 points apiece for ridding the school of the Basilisk. Although the Leaving Feast is not mentioned, we can safely assume that with additional 400 points, Gryffindor beat other Houses, including Slytherin.
Harry’s third year was rather mild compared, although Gryffindor managed to beat Slytherin again thanks to their spectacular Quidditch performance.
During the fourth year, everyone was occupied by the Triwizard Tournament, and House Cup seemed a little bit forgotten. Umbridge made the fifth year rather miserable, and House Cup didn’t even cross anybody’s mind, and Dumbledore’s death was enough to put any competition out for a while.
We can also guess that there was no House Cup competition under the Death Eaters’ rule during the 1997/1998 school year.
There is no information about whether Slytherin beat Gryffindor after Harry left Hogwarts.
Quidditch Cup
Even after the Gryffindor Quidditch team’s excellent performance and their brand new seeker, Harry Potter, Gryffindor wasn’t able to secure Quidditch Cup in the first two years of Harry’s attendance at Hogwarts.
They won two games in the first year, one against Slytherin (170 – 60), but Quidditch Cup was out of reach thanks to Harry’s absence in their last game (the worst Gryffindor performance in 300 years). Gryffindor beat Slytherin in Harry’s second year, but Quidditch Cup was canceled due to the Basilisk attack.
Gryffindor finally won the Quidditch Cup during Harry’s third year (the last year for Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor team captain), beating Slytherin by 210 points.
Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup once more, beating Slytherin in Harry’s fifth year. (Notice that we skipped year number four, as there were no Quidditch games.) During year number six, when Harry became a team captain, Gryffindor beat Slytherin by 250 points and ultimately won the Quidditch Cup.
Are Slytherin and Gryffindor the Same?
Gryffindor and Slytherin are not the same, although they share many traits.
Both Houses have determined, resourceful students who are willing to break the rules and take risks. Students from both Houses have a desire to be recognized in the wizarding world. Gryffindors and Slytherins seek the approval of others.
Here the similarities end. While Slytherins want to achieve great things as much as Gryffindors, Slytherins don’t care too much about how they do it. For them, the end justifies the means, whereas Gryffindors take care to do it right and try to have others in mind.
Slytherins crave power, and Gryffindors want fame. Slytherins base their actions on self-perseverance, while Gryffindors selflessly jump headfirst into action.
Final Thoughts
Gryffindor and Slytherin are different Houses, even though they value a few of the same character traits. There is no one sure way to tell which one is better because of those differences.
Many fans claim Gryffindors are better than Slytherins, or the other way around because of House points, Quidditch Cup, or actions of several people. We can’t condone the whole House just because certain people (Voldemort) made a few big mistakes.
In our opinion, comparing Gryffindor ad Slytherin is like comparing apples and oranges. They are both good and bad depending on a personal statement, and we can’t compare one against the other. Students from Slytherin and Gryffindor can achieve great things, and like Slughorn, be kind and unbiased.